We know from movies like “Armageddon” and “Apollo 13” that space really doesn’t like to cooperate. There’s a lot of it, it’s very dangerous, and if something goes wrong you’re pretty much on your own. There’s a reason astronauts train for two years before they’re hurtled into the great unknown: space can kill you without batting an eye. “The Martian” is a space movie that’s about more than just the idea of space trying to kill you, like in the previously mentioned movies. The individuals responsible for making this movie took a 369-page book and turned it into a cinematic experience that takes fighting to live to new extremes.

I am looking at this movie through the eyes of someone who has read every word of the book and has an idea of what the character is really like from the inside out. If you don’t read the book before going to see the movie it is still a great movie. Mark Watney’s struggle on the red planet was beautifully portrayed as both difficult and life changing, as it should be, but with any book to movie adaptation there’s something missing.

However, when you consider the fact that they condensed a lot of time into the movie, the end product came out shining. The actors complimented each other’s performances and created the balance that was felt in the book. The actors with small parts were just as important as the actors with bigger parts in making this movie a success. Matt Damon’s portrayal of the main character, Mark Watney, was spot on in both humor and the problems he faced being alone on Mars. Damon made you understand that the character was struggling every single day, but didn’t extinguish your hope for the character’s survival.

Personally, I advise you to read the book before going to see this movie. You can still enjoy the movie without reading it, but you miss out on feeling something that’s indescribable. Watching the movie made the book feel more real. The little things that normally wouldn’t bother you have the potential to hit close to home and make you realize that one little mishap could change your chances of survival. Read the book, watch the movie, or do both, but either way “The Martian” is something you should check out.